Side rolling hatch covers from MacGREGOR offering higher operating efficiency and safety with lower maintenance are specified for the first ship ordered from the new Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard in China

The Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard's debut in newbuilding is earned from a 175,000 dwt bulk carrier booked by Tai Chong Cheang Steamship; Hong Kong-based TCC holds an option for a sistership. Each of the nine cargo holds will be equipped with a MacGREGOR side rolling-type hatch cover comprising twin panels stowing to each side. The covers will offer clear openings 15.47m long x 16.5m wide (Nos 1 and 9 holds) and 15.47m x 20m (Nos 2-8 holds).

Each panel will be operated by a hydraulic motor and rack-and-pinion system exploiting a new type of hydraulically-operated self-locking Roll-up-Roll mechanism which is automatically secured when the covers are closed. The panels are raised together into the rolling position by this mechanism whose benefits in lifting and cleating are summarised as:

* self-locking automatic cleating

* facility to check directly from the bridge that all covers are closed and secured

* only 18 hydraulic cylinders for the complete hatch cover shipset, yielding better performance and lower maintenance than from traditional wheel lifting systems featuring 72 cylinders

* improved safety as there is no possibility of cleats being left unsecured

* increased cargo handling efficiency as no labour is required to open or close the cleats.

Sealing between the hatch covers and coamings, and between the cover panels, will be secured with MacGREGOR's FlexSeal rubber packing.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard (SWS), designed to be China's largest and most advanced shipbuilding base, will have an annual shipbuilding capacity of 1.8 million dwt when fully completed.

The SWS order represents the fourth series of bulk carriers commissioned by TCC with MacGREGOR side rolling hatch cover sets. The earlier orders all placed at South Korean yards called for two 170,000 dwt ships from Halla (deliveries in 1998), three 170,000 dwt ships from Samho (deliveries in 2001) and a pair of 173,000 dwt ships from Daewoo (deliveries in 2000/2001).